[C320-list] Rigging for 30+knts - Docking

[Jim Sweet]

Best advice I ever got on docking was "never approach a dock any faster than 
a speed you're willing to hit it at".  Words to live by.

Jim Sweet
TGIF (Thank God It Floats) 901
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis Harris" <dharris02 at suddenlink.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Rigging for 30+knts - Docking


> Jeff,
>
> Thanks for your advice.  Your recommendation largely reconfirms my 
> thoughts about approach speed.  I had not thought about your suggestion of 
> practicing approaches on a mooring buoy from all different angles.  I 
> think that the next time that I'm out sailing and the wind is kicking up, 
> I'll put out a temporary buoy (weighted round fender) and have a practice 
> session.  This temporary buoy will get me out into open water where 
> conditions will be more severe than at the mooring buoys that I have 
> access to.  As for hot approaches, I've seen a few of these and they often 
> don't turn out well.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jeff Hare" <catalina at thehares.com>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Rigging for 30+knts
>
>
>> Dennis,
>>
>>  The most important rule in my book is Mimimum Headway Speed.  Don't go 
>> any faster than you'd want to be going if you knew you were going to hit 
>> something.
>>
>> Even with wind, current/waves, before you head into the slip area, figure 
>> out how slow you can go and maintain steerage, and what angle to wind / 
>> waves the bow needs to point to travel the direction you want.
>>
>> Put out lots of fenders at appropriate places to protect your boat and 
>> others.
>>
>> While it seems counter intuitive, *avoid* using the throttle at ALL COST 
>> during your approach.
>>
>> Put the throttle at about idle and go in and out of gear to manage your 
>> speed.  This technique makes it much easier to focus on holding down boat 
>> speed and the precision of your approach.
>>
>> Again, GO SLOWLY, and if you find you are going to hit, don't panic, just 
>> go to neutral and let it happen, let the boat settle and weigh the 
>> options then. Trying to power out of the situation nearly always makes 
>> things worse. This is why you were going as slowly as possible to begin 
>> with.  :)
>>
>> I can't tell you how many times I see people coming in hot and trying to 
>> blast their way in because they think its the only way to get the boat 
>> in. When it fails (usually does), it is a high stress event taking place 
>> really fast, with damage to match.
>>
>> Try using a mooring ball sometime to see just how slowly you can go and 
>> touch the boat's bow right on the ball from any direction you choose 
>> regardless of the wind/current direction. It'll do wonders for your 
>> confidence.
>> -Jeff
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "Dennis Harris" <dharris02 at suddenlink.net>
>> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:23:07
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Reply-To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Rigging for 30+knts
>>
>> In sailing in 30+ knots wind and the time comes to run for cover, that
>> probably means docking in these conditions.  Single handed, or with
>> inexperienced crew, how do/have you done this without damaging the boat?
>>
>> Secondly, how should I do it?.....typical situation, standard fixed 
>> piling
>> slip (14' x 35') oriented N-S, wind from SW over 3 mile fetch, 8-9' depth
>> with significant wave/chop action.  Slip approach in fairway will be to 
>> E,
>> 200' down wind/cross wind.  Hazards are short finger pier on leeward side 
>> of
>> slip and adjacent boats extending a little into fairway.
>>
>> Dennis Harris
>> C320 # 694
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Pat Ireland" <cherie320 at gmail.com>
>> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:07 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Rigging for 30+knts
>>
>>
>>> All
>>>
>>> Thank you for the benefit of your experience.  Appreciate the advice.
>>> Looks
>>> like the take aways are....new sails (no bags allowed), double reef,
>>> flatten
>>> until the stitches pop, use good gloves, depower, raise a small jib, and
>>> run
>>> for cover when it just does not work.
>>>
>>> Pat, 801
>>
>>
>
>